12.14 Foundation

Since 12.14 Foundation summer musical director and creative leader Michael Unger left Newtown after last year’s successful run of 101 Dalmatians: The Musical and A Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream, he has been very busy. Along with editing an opera DVD in Boise, Idaho, and recently taking on the position of Artistic Director of the York Theatre in New York City, Mr Unger has been working with 12.14 Foundation founder Michael Baroody to determine which shows the company will mount for 2015.

BETHEL — A special concert featuring the Shapiro Sisters (Abigail and Tony Award honoree and Grammy Award nominee Milly), Paige Brady and Ava Ulloa (Matilda), Zachary Unger (Newsies), Jillian Caillouette (two-time winner of the Connecticut High School Music Theatre Awards) and cast members from all three 12.14 Foundation shows (Seussical: the Musical, The 101 Dalmatians Musical and A ROCKIN’ Midsummer Night’s Dream) will be held at Walnut Hill Community Church on Friday, November 7, beginning at 7 pm.

When all is sung and done, owners of the soon-to-be-released original soundtrack of The 12.14 Foundation’s A Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream will be able to sample from either the “Moon” or “Stars” cast CDs, or they can enjoy all the subtle diversities between the two.

In an exclusive interview with The Newtown Bee, country music and American Idol star Scotty McCreery (right) is asking fans and followers planning to send him birthday gifts on October 9 to instead make a donation to The 12.14 Foundation. McCreery, the organization’s National Goodwill Ambassador, is pictured here with Foundation founder and Newtown resident Dr Michael Baroody.

Longtime Newtown resident Pete Samoskevich was surprised on Saturday by his family and friends with a celebration of his 80th birthday. Pete, known best around town on the ball diamonds and working at Sunoco, continues to be a presence in town, entertaining anyone who will talk with him. Happy Birthday, Petey!

Every single person involved with this summer’s 12.14 Foundation musicals, from the executive production team led by Newtowner Dr Michael Baroody and Director Michael Unger, to the crew, cast, adult volunteers, and even those who turned out for one or all the performances of 101 Dalmatians: The Musical and A Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream owe themselves a standing ovation.

Want to know how to catch a raccoon? Well, don’t ask Howard Lasher. Someone told Howard that the best way to solve the raccoon problem in his garden was to place sardines in a Hav-A-Hart trap. That may attract raccoons, true, but there are many other animals that are tempted by those stinky little fish — and when Howard and Jeanette were unable to find their cat, Georgio Katz, I’ll bet you can guess where he was. Poor Georgio was trapped. At least he didn’t go hungry.

The 12.14 Foundation will present “Connecticut’s Got Talent!,” a talent competition that will feature performers ranging in age from 6 to 56, “and bring a variety of incredible talent to the stage,” said Allison Koziol, chair of the committee organizing the show. Hosted by and a benefit for The 12.14 Foundation, the show will include solo singers, groups, bands, dancers, even a percussionist and a juggler, Ms Koziol told The Newtown Bee on August 1.

As the parent of a child performing in the 12.14 Foundation's theater productions this summer, I want to thank the Foundation and the many theater professionals who returned for a second summer, working six days a week with more than 200 local area children to produce “101 Dalmatians: The Musical” and “A Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream”!